A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

  • Collection DOI:
    Principal Investigator:
    Matthew McPherson, Mandy Karnauskas, Suzana Blake

  • This collection was created during the 2017-2018 red tide event that had major ecosystem impacts on the west coast of Florida. Fish harvesters and related businesses suffered major setbacks during this time. Fishers, with a long history on the water and oftentimes second or third generation involved in the fishing business, reminisce about how the ecosystem has changed during their and their families time and the red tides they have witnessed. The collection provides information on species affected, specific areas affected, as well as discussions related to adaptation behaviors and specific business impacts.

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Interviewee Collection Description Interviewer Date of Interview Location of Interview Affiliation
Joe Croke A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Joe Croke is a recent commercial fisherman, who started fishing in the Cortez area in 2008.

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
John Hand A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

John Hand is a 4th generation Floridian. Originally from the Tampa area, he moved down to Everglades City and became a charter captain. John Hand does not allude to any specific Red Tide event, but gives insight to the environmental changes that are happening in the Everglades. The only Red Tide events he talked about occurred in the Tampa area.

Scope and Content Note

 Suzana Blake, Amanda Stoltz Everglades City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
John Philip Banyas A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

John Banyas is a fourth-generation fisherman from Cortez, Florida. He has dedicated his life to the fishing industry, learning the trade from his grandfather and engaging in various fishing techniques such as gill netting and purse seining. Banyas has become a vocal advocate for addressing the detrimental effects of red tide on the fishing industry, highlighting the decline in fish populations and the urgent need to improve water quality to ensure the sustainability of the fishery. 

 Michael Jepson Cortez, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Jonnie Walker A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Jonnie Walker has been chartering in the Sarasota base since 1974.  He has lived there since 1957.  His parents had a bait shop on the Venice Jetty in the 60s and 70s.  He works mainly in Sarasota Bay and the Gulf. He mainly fishes trout, redfish, mackerel, kingfish, cobia, grouper, and mangrove snapper.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz, Karla Gore Sarasota, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Kelly Kurtz A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Kelly Kurtz is a Sarasota native who has been chartering for the last ten years. He mostly fishes inshore but he fishes up to nine miles offshore as well. He talks about if there is another red tide he might have to get another job or a bigger boat so that he can work offshore.

Scope and Content Note

 Amanda Stoltz, Karla Gore Sarasota, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Kenyon Ghandi A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Kenyon Ghandi is old-time Florida fisherman. He began fishing in 1948, and has been a commercial fisherman and owns a seafood market. Gandy narrates the evolution of the fishery in Panama City and gives insight on the history of the area. 

Scope and Content Note

 Matt McPherson Panama City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Kevin Bellington A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Kevin Bellington is an experienced fishing guide with nearly 40 years of fishing in Goodland, Florida. As a charter captain, he has encountered numerous red tide events throughout his career and witnessed their impact on fish populations. 

Scope and Content Note

 Mandy Karnauskas, Suzana Blake Goodland, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Lou Bagget A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Lou Baggett is a 5th generation Floridian fisherman. He was once a commercial fisherman, and now mostly employs charter services.

Scope and Content Note

In this interview, Baggett enlightens us on the rapid, environmental changes occurring in southwest Florida.  The most intense Red Tide he has experienced was in 2013, which he attributes to a phosphate dumping event. 

 Suzana Blake Fort Myers Beach, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Mark Hubbard A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Mark Hubbard is a third generation fisherman with a deep-rooted family history in the fishing industry. He began his fishing journey at a young age, catching pinfish and later engaging in gill netting and net fishing. Over the years, Mark established a successful charter boat business in 1986 and a party boat business in 1992.

Scope and Content Note

 Michael Jepson, Mandy Karnauskas Madeira Beach, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
Mark Ratfield A History of Red Tide events on the West Coast of Florida

Mark Ratfield is a 5th generation Floridian and commercial fisherman. Ratfield shares his stories of how difficult the fishery is in the Panama City Beach area. He recalls two distinct Red Tide events, in 2002 and 2016.

Scope and Content Note

 Suzana Blake Panama City, FL Southeast Fisheries Science Center
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